After World War II, Japan underwent large-scale industrialization and modernization, leading to great economic prosperity.In order for this success to occur, the Japanese people threw themselves into their jobs. They worked hard and focused solely on the economy, disregarding the social ramifications wrought by industrialization.

In the 1990s, with the crash of the bubble economy, social issues became prevalent in Japan. Previously, people valued their work more than their personal lives, so when the job market crashed, their lives were left meaningless. This stressful event, perceived as uncontrollable, sparked the advent of the post-bubble culture we see in Japan today which is characterized by new-age social problems. Initially, Japanese people developed into social phenomena such as otaku, freeters, and hikikomori as a way to cope with economic stress. Ironically, these coping mechanisms have now become social stressors in Japan.

This is a picture of a strange-colored cactus growing out of lava. The lava, typically associated with volcanoes, represents the destruction caused by the economic crash. New, unexpected things have grown not only from the volcano, but also from the economic crash. Now, Japanese society is unsure about how to deal with these anomalies that have resulted from the collapse of the bubble economy.

30 October1890: The Imperial Restrict on Education was issued, outlining post-shogunate goals for Japanese education including producing students who thought alike, acted alike, and had the same store of knowledge.

Late 1800s- 1945: According to the Imperial Restrict on Education, Japanese students were educated in a strict system focusing on rote memorization, uniformity, and reverence to the Emperor and the Empire of Japan.,

1970s (post-war Japan): Students began to rebel against this education system by acting violently against fellow students, teachers, and school property.

1980s- 1990s: Japanese students who had been educated abroad began to return to Japan and became targets for bullying by both students and teachers alike for being inherently “different,” because of their foreign views and behavioral patterns.

1992-1996: The number of Ijime (bullying)-related arrests fluctuated at an alarming rate.

1998: The National Diet took action calling for reforms that would end “mind-numbing” and competitive examinations that students were required to take.

November 2006:In the span of just 4 days, a string of 5 student suicides across Japan was reported; all cases were linked to bullying.

Present: Abuse has taken the form of “Cyber Bullying” in an attempt to bring the bullying outside of school jurisdiction and hide it from the authorities.Methods such as text messages and internet bulletin boards are used to ridicule, torment, and harass students and teachers.

1997: Kyoto Protocol- international environmental protection agreement made by UN

2001: Environment Agency is promoted to Ministry of the Environment- has more governmental influence

Present: Current major issues include- global warming, preservation of the ozone layer, water and soil, waste management and recycling, conservation of the natural environment, and participation in international cooperation